Princeton welcomes new doctor

PRINCETON – Princeton residents are welcoming a new doctor with open arms, following a medical crisis in the Silmikameen town.

The community’s newest physician is Dr. Mahrouse Mousa.

Dr. Mousa was recently certified to practise in Canada after working as a doctor in Egypt for the past three decades, bringing with him a breadth of expertise.

“I have extensive experience in emergency medicine, in general and obstetrics and gynecology, so I guess this is a new experience to this hospital,” said Dr. Mousa.

With the arrival of several new doctors, Princeton is now recovering from a crisis.

Four years ago, the town was at risk of losing its hospital and desperately needed to attract physicians.

“We were in a community in crisis with no doctors, we were losing our last two doctors at that time,” said Cherie Whittaker, Princeton General Hospital Manager.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We were in a community in crisis with no doctors, we were losing our last two doctors at that time," said Cherie Whittaker, Princeton General Hospital Manager.

In 2013, three new doctors began building their practice in Princeton. Dr. Mousa is the latest addition, helping to relieve the caseload.

Since Dr. Mousa’s arrival, he’s already taken on 240 patients and his practice will continue to grow which is good news for people in Princeton because the Interior Health Authority says there are more than 700 people waiting for family doctors.

Interior Health says its goal is to couple residents with either a doctor or a nurse. The authority says those with greatest medical need will be matched first.

Whittaker says about 3,000 people now have a primary care provider.

Dr. Mousa said he was recruited by a couple of B.C. communities, but in the end picked Princeton because of the lifestyle.

“I was amazed by the outdoor activities here and how nice the people are. Also, my wife, who is a pharmacist, got a job here,” said Dr. Mousa.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I was amazed by the outdoor activities here and how nice the people are. Also, my wife, who is a pharmacist, got a job here," said Dr. Mousa.

Most of all, he says he is looking forward to caring for his patients and connecting with his new community.

“I am very happy to have all of these patients to look after,” said Dr. Mousa.

Dr. Mousa is one of 11 internationally-trained doctors that completed a B.C. government funded program that matches physicians to rural communities in the province.